Culminating from years of planning, Tom James (Executive Chairman of one of St. Petersburg’s largest and well known publicly traded companies) announced plans about the anticipated $55-million Tom & Mary James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art – opening in 2017.Wannemacher Jensen is proud to collaborate with Yann Weymouth and Harvard Jolly on this important and generous cultural contribution from Mr. and Mrs. James, to St. Pete’s residents and visitors for generations.
More than five hundred pieces of artwork are coming from the Tom & Mary James/Raymond James Art Collection. The James Museum will encompass the first two floors of downtown St. Pete’s 100 Central Avenue building, covering more than 133,000 square feet of museum space alongside mixed-use, public and retail space – a theater, a cafe, and community event space.

Mr. James has long supported the prominent and ever-evolving St. Pete arts scene in many ways, including serving as president for the Dali Museum Board of Trustees.The James is one in a game-changing series of downtown Saint Petersburg renovations and developments in the works, such as the “One” complex across the street, the Central Avenue 400 block, the American Arts and Crafts Movement Museum on the other side of downtown, and the Pier District.

St. PETERSBURG, Fla. (August 24, 2015) – Wannemacher Jensen Architects (WJA) brought two major school renovation projects to a close in time for the back-to-school kick-off this week.

At 2100 26th Avenue South, in what many regard as underserved neighborhoods of St. Petersburg, kids are stepping into the newly renovated Lake Maggiore YMCA Preschool Academy this week. A $2.3 million-dollar project, the academy will serve 120 students.

The facility houses eight oversized classrooms, a full-service teaching kitchen and a community garden available to nearby families. In addition to each room being outfitted with 21st century technology, connectivity and smart boards, WJA specifically designed the space with flexibility in mind because the rooms will double as adult learning areas for financial workshops, parenting courses and wellness classes.

Meanwhile up the street in Clearwater at St. Paul’s School, WJA transformed a 16,000 square feet existing structure that accommodates 150 students into a personalized learning community. Focusing on an open and flexible learning space, WJA consulted with and incorporated education design principles by Fielding Nair. The new design created a reoriented entry from the exterior courtyard, removed partitions, and opened interior and exterior views to increase interaction between students and staff; and to encourage the use of outdoor learning spaces.

“Our goal is to create environments that translate a vision and reflect a community. Delivering on basic structural and technology needs is of course important, and by focusing on holistic environments, we’re designing places where it’s safe and fun to learn. We want kids dragging mom or dad to school instead of pleading with kids to get them here each morning,” said architect (and parent) Jason Jensen.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (July 6, 2015)—On June 30, Wannemacher Jensen Architects (WJA) celebrated the opening of its latest project – a new domestic violence shelter for St. Petersburg nonprofit CASA.

The $12 million project – Victoria Place – triples capacity to provide emergency housing and services to families escaping violence. (CASA – Community Action Stops Abuse – provides a safe haven for men, women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Learn more about CASA here.)

“We worked closely with CASA to help design a holistic atmosphere: One focus was to create a safe environment – not just one that is safe but that also really feels safe,” said WJA’s Tara Wood. “Privacy is another focus, while also creating opportunities for social interaction, collaboration, and camaraderie.”

Between Bayshore Blvd. and Tampa Bay lies Coopers Point Bayou Park. Home to a kayak launch, mangroves, paved walking trails and a lake, many consider it an oasis in Safety Harbor just outside bustling downtown Tampa.

As part of the long term master plan to make Cooper’s Point peninsula more accessible, Wannamacher Jensen Architects designed a new observation tower to provide access to nature.

The tower will become one with the landscape while providing views of Tampa Bay, Cooper’s Bayou, as well as the preserve area. Through the use of a porous skin cladding, the tower has the ability to provide shade and shadow from the intensity of the Florida sun, while creating spaces for birding, relaxation, and education.